Report | Watford 0-2 Reading

A WINNING START!

Adrian Akande and Jayden Wareham were on target in the second half as our pre-season preparations began with a 2-0 win over Watford.

The first-half was an evenly contested affair, before changes for both sides saw the Royals become the dominant side in the second period, with the two youngsters making the difference just after the half hour mark.

The game started with the Rubén Sellés' side creating their first chance just three minutes in, with Lewis Wing picking out Kelvin Abrefa on the right flank with a brilliant ball, the right-back drilling the ball towards the blue and white shirts in the area, but his cross was cleared.

And it was Wing and Abrefa linking up again, just after the 10-minute mark, with the former playing a sublime floated ball out to the right wing for the Royals to win a corner. Charlie Savage floated it in and it was headed away straight to the feet of Tivonge Rushesha who fired goalwards from outside the area, but his effort flew over the bar.

Joel Pereira was then called into action for the first time as Vakoun Bayo sprung through to open up a one-on-one opportunity at the right-hand corner of the penalty area. But El Gato got down low quickly to spread himself and keep his effort out.

A resulting corner was cleared and allowed Femi Azeez to turn his man and carry the ball towards the halfway line, seeing the 'keeper well off his line he had a go from distance, but the effort was comfortably gathered up.

A minute later and it was Azeez involved again, finding more joy down the right through some neat link up play, the ball was worked to him at the right-hand corner of the box, the forward taking aim but seeing his effort go over.

An attritional midfield battle ensued for the next twenty minutes, with few chances for either side, but the final chance of the half went to James Claridge who tried to test Pereira from 25 yards out, with the Portuguese 'keeper producing a strong save low to his left.

Half Time: Watford 0-0 Reading

Jay Senga got the second half underway, and the Royals went straight on the attack, with Ben Elliott almost immediately winning a free kick on the right flank. Harvey Knibbs floated it in, but the resulting header flew over the bar.

A minute later and Knibbs was involved again, the press causing Watford problems in possession, and after winning the ball back, he was fouled in the area, but the referee waved away the strong claims for a penalty.

The Hornets then had their biggest chance of the game, the ball came in from the left and landed nicely to be hit on the half-volley, fortunately Tyler Bindon was back on the goal-line to chest it away.

The hosts then gave the ball away again deep in their own half, Akande broke down the right and looked to square the ball across to the far post- but the ball just flew past the far post before anyone could get on the end of it.

Just past the hour mark a throw in on the left was worked into Knibbs, who neatly worked into Wareham who was able to run onto the end of it, and into the area, he fired goalwards but it just sneaked past the far post.

However, the Royals' persistence paid off, youngster Andre Garcia charged down the left wing and played a neat ball for Knibbs to get on the end of, he took it to the by-line and cut it back to an unmarked Adrian Akande, who from 12 yards, fired it across the Watford 'keeper and into the left corner of his net.

And just a minute later, it was Akande who was involved again, winning it deep on the right side and picking out Wareham on the edge of the area, the striker buried his chance into the back of the net, but the referee ruled it out for a foul in the build up.

The set piece was immediately won by a Royals head, and a counter attack was immediately launched, drawing a foul on the edge of the area which Knibbs quickly switched to Elliott, but a superb sliding challenege blocked his effort.

Knibbs stood over another set piece moments later, as Akande switched it to Garcia who drew a foul, but the effort went over.

But then more joy down the left, after a darting run into the penalty area, John Ryan was upended in the box, and the referee made no hesitation pointing to the spot.
Jayden Wareham stepped up and fired the spot-kick high and to the 'keeper's right but Marriott pulled off a strong save to keep it out, it bounced back to Wareham who made no mistake second time around, with a spectacular diving header to double our lead.

3 minutes later and Harlee Dean had a strong header at the back post well saved, before a corner was taken short to Elliott, who beat his man and cut it back to Knibbs, but the effort was once again blocked.

The final chances of the game fell to unlikely sources in Ashqar Ahmed and Tyler Bindon, the ball was headed out of the box and the young right-back did exceptionally well to beat his man and meet the ball in the air a strong header from distance ended up just the wrong side of the right post. Finally, Jayden Wareham turned his man in the Royals' half, before carrying the ball upfield and setting Knibbs away, he was fouled on the left flank and Bindon took a turn at free-kick duties, his effort flew towards the top left corner but was just palmed away by the 'keeper.

Full Time: Watford 0-2 Reading

Reading: Pereira (Button HT), Abrefa (Ahmed HT), Mbengue (Dean HT), Kanu (Bindon HT), Dorsett (Ryan HT), Wing (Elliott HT), Rushesha (Senga HT), Savage (Knibbs HT), Ehibhatiomhan (Akande HT) Camara (Wareham HT), Azeez (Garcia HT, Tuma 80')

Goals: Akande 64', Wareham 72'